Are Two Masks Better Than One?

The trend of double or triple masking has quickly caught on. President-elect Joe Biden, sportspersons and many experts have added another level of ‘protection’, many are also opting to choose to don a face shield over a face mask.

What’s going on?

On Thursday night I watched Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s take on this topic.  For the record, I periodically watch Fox News to understand how people, with opinions that differ from mine, view the world.

Laura Ingraham reported that wearing two masks instead of one was not effective. Her guest, who she identified as a doctor, corroborate her theory. They mentioned many reports to support their opinions which infers that wearing two masks is ridiculous.

Not only did I nod along in agreement with their assessments, but I questioned the logic behind doubling up on masks. The next day I even shared Laura Ingraham’s opinion with friends on a Zoom call.

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

This news caught my attention because multiple members of my family contracted COVID over the holidays. They were tested before gathering, wore masks and still contracted COVID. Collectively they have spent days, nights and weeks wondering and worrying how they contracted COVID and which family members is responsible for the spread. I also have several friends who double up on masks every time they walk out the door.

This is why I decided to do my own research and google the effectiveness of wearing two masks instead of one. Basically, there’s plenty of research that supports this concept which is disheartening to me. There are also stories stating that Fox News Host Laura Ingraham incorrectly interprets data for her own purposes.

Here’s what I found to support and question the effectiveness of doubling up on face masks:

advisory.Com reports research has led some to begin layering masks for extra protection. If you start layering masks, “you start achieving pretty high efficiencies,” Marr said. She explained, “The air has to follow this torturous path. The big things it’s carrying are not going to be able to follow those twists and turns” through the obstacle course created by the mask fibers.

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On December 18, 2020, CNN reported that ‘Researchers reject Fox News Host Laura Ingraham’s misuse of their studies to support mask denialism in a story by Oliver Darcy. The story clearly states that authors from two studies reject how (Laura) Ingraham and other mask doubters have portrayed their work. Each of them told CNN Business that they fully support the recommendation from health experts that people wear face masks while out in public.

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The Times of India reports that the only people who should consider using more masks than one is if you are in a high-risk place are a healthcare worker who faces high exposure or if you experience trouble finding a good quality mask which doesn’t fit you go

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health.Com reports ‘Double the mask, double the protection? Not necessarily’. The article then mentions that one small study directly addresses the benefit of wearing two masks simultaneously, but it hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed (which means the results shouldn’t be used to guide doctors and clinicians yet). In that study, the researchers found that a two-mask “sandwich” might prove better when a higher-functioning mask isn’t available.

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We’re talking about a ‘New Year, New You‘ attitude about living with diabetes with musical inspiration from Aaliyah on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Pendulum Therapeutics CEO and Co-Founder Colleen Cutcliffe, Ph. D., (the maker of Pendulum Glucose Control), Virginia Valentine, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Dr. Darren Wayne from MealBetix and Yoga For Diabetes Author Rachel Zinman.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Aaliyah’s Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number album courtesy of SONY Music.

‘Don’t get down, get DIVA’ about wearing a face mask! Check out our friend, Evetta Petty’s fabulous coordinated hat and mask collection for Harlem’s Heaven Hats.

 

 

Divabetic Tea Time Poem by Lorraine Brooks

Last night, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosted Divabetic’s free, fun Tea Party in celebration of National Diabetes Awareness Month with special guests: Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine SchullerTessie’s Teas’ owner Rose Hall and Harlem Heaven’s Hats owner Evetta Petty.

To everyone’s delight Poet Lorraine Brooks shared a poem about each of our guests after their presentation. Enjoy!

Divabetic Tea Time Poem by Lorraine Brooks

Showing hats to cover our heads

Whether we’re sporting a crewcut or dreads

Many styles to make us happier

Looking cool and looking dapper

Plaids and checks and stripes and such

Fabric lovely to the touch

So get your canes and gloves and spats

And visit Harlem’s Heaven Hats!

Join us in a cup of tea

Chamomile or lemon-y

Ways to heal for young and old

Meditate and heal the soul

Sit and think and leave your strife

Breathe and cleanse your spirit life

Only teas can can lift you up

So come and join us in a cup.

Fashion style and a little blush

Make you look exotic and lush

Sport a scarf or wear a tie

A little shadow for the eye

Tweeze the eyebrows and the chin

If you look good you will grin

We all want to look much cooler

So take a tip from Catherine Schuller

Divabetic’s virtual outreach event kicked off with a live Harlem Heaven’s Hat show featuring model Jennifer Lui at the Harlem’s Heaven’s pop up shop in Bryant Park ‘s Winter Village Shops in New York City.  Harlem’s Heaven Hat shop specializes in providing the right head wear and face mask for the right occasions.

Rose Hall, the owner of Tessie’s Teas, shared how simple daily meditations can help relieve stress, anxiety and even reduce your blood pressure over a cup of tea.  Tessie’s Teas are all natural caffeine-free, chemical-free instant crystallized teas that meet all of your healthy-living needs.

Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, who is a fashion curator, former plus model, coach, speaker, writer, producer, and image consultant, demonstrated eight different and divine ways to wear a scarf in honor of Dr. Deborah Birx. Dr. Birx’s ever-changing scarves captivate the internet in her daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings. One popular scarf was by Hermès, or, to be precise, Hermès’ “Retour à la Terre”, in peach. We know this because there is an Instagram account devoted to Dr Birx’s scarves!

 

Are you interested in learning how to bake with sugar substitutes? Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTRATION